Friday, 30 September 2011

The blog has recieved takedown notices on the last few postings of the Street Sounds mixes. Weve complied with them where they explain who the complainant was.

TO BE CLEAR: These are mixes, produced for music lovers with the aim of letting them explore new as well as big named artists with the hope that they are PURCHASED. And statistics show that people do purchse the music they like. These mixes are no different to a podcast or a 1/2 hour radio show.

Its petty of big named acts to insist on these mixes being taken down when other lesser known artists would like the exposure. Yes, I'm talking to you Mary J Blige's publishing company.........

In any case: ON TO THE NEW

Aside from the ever soulful Anthony Hamilton (Whose album drops in 2012 I hear) and the return of the great bassist and artist Meshell Ndegeocello (Whose suddenly popped up on a couple of tunes) this mix comprises of mainly new artists. I would recommend Anesha and A+ for the RnB heads and Maimouna Youssef for the Soul lovers. But my tune of the mix? Mark De Clive Lowe's new single "The Why". Yes, hes an established artist too, but slept on IMO. His single is hot and needs your attention!

Mark pops up on this mix too, but its the Hip Hop that shines. Great tune from Strange Fruit Project, a great instrumental track from Slakah the Beatchild and Hazel, but its the cover star, none other than 9th Wonder, who takes centre stage. New Album is great and as I said on twitter, mash it up with Phonte's new LP and youve got the Hip Hop LP of the year (They are all over each others LP's like a rash anyhow!). More to come from 9th in future weeks, but enjoy this mix for now. (Barring any takedown notices!)

More new music next week, cause we dont stop. Get your fix of classic soul from Grizz to start your week though!

Sunday, 25 September 2011

As Jean Carne and Al Johnson once said.... 'I'm back for more'.... and its more high calibre rare groove/soul in this case!

Includes a much played & well worn (in the Grizz household anyway) 1967 classic from the Soul Brothers Six (B side to their big hit too), Love Unlimited Orchestra provide the string laden soul, a solid 'boogie' tune from Donna Washington and a Slave classic from the Stone Jam LP.

I'll be back with some 60's Soul goodies next after SoulNRnB trys to keep you in touch with more good new stuff coming out. Also we've had one or two mixes taken down by 'the man' so don't hang around on these!

Thursday, 22 September 2011

To say that new music, GOOD new music, is coming in thick and fast is an understatement.

I've got Street Sounds mixes coming at you thick and fast over the next few weeks, and whilst I'm gonna be posting more TOP 11 mixes as well as the ARTIST series I'm working on with Grizz, Ive got to keep all our followers up to date with whats new to check out musically, and I aint gonna slip!!

Therefore.................

Right off the bat, New Phonte from his forthcoming LP. Produced by (and re-united with) ex Little Brother and producer extrodinaire 9th Wonder and featuring Elzhi from Slum Village. Can you guess the sample? More excellent Hip hop from Jakk Frost (Produced by the Neptunes and featuring Amerie) and Stalley, who cheekily samples Steveland Morris to great effect. Add to that Soul from KING (Excellent MdCl remix) and Robin Thicke; Plus R&B from Latif and Syleena Johnson.

But that aint it.

More HEAT from Goapele, a new tune from Monica (That I previewd back in 2009 with Voyce Alexander singing on one of our deleted NU-Soul Comps), stalwarts Mary J Blige, Anthony Hamilton and Gap Band member Charlie Wilson, topped of with a great version of "I Cant help it" from Yazarah.

Grizz back after the weekend, back with more new music next week.

###Update###

Received a takedown notice for Street Sounds Sessions 59. After investigation it seems the problem is around the Mary J Blige track. I have removed the link and apologise to the others on that particular mix who didn't mind the exposure.

##Update 2###

Now Fileserve have deleted both mixes. Hey ho. Get them while you can I say. Who knows what a future MEGA PACK may hold. ;)

Monday, 19 September 2011

The UK Summers over and Autumn begins and although you try resist putting the heating on in the morning you know those cold nights are coming! Time to wrap up and put your feet up to something chilled-out... so heres 10 more mellow soul n jazz tunes from back in the day.

Includes Luther giving us his version of a Bacarach and David classic, Terry Calliers velvet tones , The Queen of Memphis Soul Ann Peebles, a somewhat non-PC but still classy Shirley Brown tune and topped off with a jazzy but finely covered take on Earth Wind and Fire from Japan.

Thursday, 15 September 2011

So, another Top 11 mix. We've done the Noughties and the 80's, now lets take a trip back to flat tops, New Jack Swing and the Fresh Prince......nahhhhhhhhh. Forget that. The decade started pretty....Wack......but halfway through Neo-Soul was born, and essentially, artists decided to make music again taking inspriration from the 70's.

OK. Lets get down to it. My choice for Top 11, in no particular order.

Most of these LP's need no introduction. So ill say something about a few.

Adriana Evans - IMO, the LP that birthed "Neo Soul". Pre Brown Sugar. (CORRECTION: Post Brown Sugar....but to me for some reason...pre! I do think though that this LP influenced the Organic sound more than Brown Sugar which kicked the door down of New Jack Swing. THX MIMI SOUL) Like a breath of fresh air, organic and soulful.

Blaze - One side featured thier brand of excellent house music, the other? A virtual history of 70's Black Music. Influences from Curtis to Stevie. Absolute class.

Camp Lo - 70's inspired Hip Hop? This is it. From the samples to the House of Bamboo references, to the 70's pimpalicious flow. My choice for Hip Hop LP, though I know Hip Hop heads will widen thier eyes.

And thats it. Except the one I always forget. Dont think I dont love you Erykah, cause I do. Ever since I first heard "On & On" and saw you double billing it with Jamiroquai in the UK back in the day. I dont know why I havent put an LP of yours in one of my lists. Cant work it out. My bad. But here you are in spirit.

Monday, 12 September 2011

OK so its 2 weeks since the Carnival but I need no excuse to post some more of those old time soulful reggae grooves. perfect for all you mature winders and grinders.

The Investigators try and wring a few more days of sun out of our summer, Rudy Thomas does a Billy Paul classic, Black Magic cover the Jones Girls, the In Crowd do their stuff and reggae royalty The Tamlins all feature plus much more.

I know Mr SoulNRnB is trying hard to keep up with and share all the new stuff coming out but we've both got a series of 'artist' specials coming up over the coming months so stay tuned. Of course if theres any Soul/JazzFunk/RnB artists you'd like featured then let us know via comments etc and we'll do our very best.

Friday, 9 September 2011

Yet another double bill, just because there is new music coming out thick and fast. Dont want that New music missing anybody....so here goes:

First volume has some great new music from Nina Vidal and Sharlene Hector, two artists you should keep on your radars, a great soul tune from Tasha Taylor; Johnny Taylors daughter. If you dont know who Johnny Taylor is, google him. Some great soul music from that man and it looks like it runs in the family. On top of that, youve got more Anthony Hamilton, and remixes for Teedra Moses and India Arie. Track of the mix? In light of the anniversary of MJ's death, theres a great version of Never can say goodbye; Vocals by Mr Jackson, instrumentation by the great Electric Empire. Check it out. More MJ tributes on the mix forthcoming, including one from YahZara.

An excellent Soul Niceness from Grizz this week, I know theres loads of fans of his Lovers Rock mixes too, so come back for him on Monday.

Back next week, maybe with more of these or a top 11!!

***UPDATE*** Was taken down for "Music Violations", but this is a mix, promoting the Artists? Looked on Chilling Effects to see who placed the complaint so I could remove thier material, but nothing there. So I'm putting it back up. Why shouldnt the other artists enjoy some exposure!

Monday, 5 September 2011

Yet another offering of top notch Rare Groove and Soul from the crates.

10 more quality cuts from the likes of Freddie Hughes, The Sylvers, a 70's cut from 60's soul god Jackie Wilson and a track from JazzFunk legend Weldon Irvine whose musical career spanned 5 decades!

I've had some pretty good feedback about Megaupload so will be sticking with them to share my mixes but let us know if you guys hit problems with the downloads. SoulNRnB up at the weekend and then I'm back with a Lovers Rock installment.

Friday, 2 September 2011

Well, the new music is coming thick and fast now after a slow start to the year. Got 5 more of these ready to share already with some killer music for you all, so stay with us in the coming weeks!

In the meantime.....

Check out new killer joints from Anthony Hamilton, a Neptunes produced track from Joe, great R&B from Andrea Martin and Teairra Mari, one of my (sure-to-be) singles of the year from Tracy Cruz, cover star Carlitta Durrand sharing the spotlight with Phontigallo on an 80's inspired jam plus much much more.....

....like the next volume.

Raheem Devaughn returns to the type of music he was producing back in the day, Marsha Ambrosius teams up with Daley to produce a monster, a tune from the excellent Jill Scott LP on Hidden Beach (MUCH preferable to her new LP on Warners IMO.......and these are out-takes. But I do love me some Jill!), new kids on the block Colnel Red and UK songstress Fatima, topped off by cover star Mark de Clive-Lowe whose new LP is gonna be a MUST BUY and who we will have more tunes showcased on upcoming mixes.

There you go. Enjoy, Grizz back soon, and were talking about collaborating on a couple of new series mixes (Like we did on the Disco Soul) so stay tunes for more on that.